Kate Childs of Tuxis Ohr ’ s , and chair of CEMA , with U . S . Marines in attendance . The Marines collected toys for the Toys for Tots campaign . l FON

Fans of maple syrup might not know : Propane often has a role in producing it .

Bill Overbaugh of Trumansburg , New York , is marketing propane-fired maple syrup from central New York State . Overbaugh and his father , Tom , have been making the syrup for eight years from the sugar maples on their property .

The boiling process , which renders the sap from the sugar maples on his property , is fired exclusively with propane .

Overbaugh is a former propane and heating oil marketer from central New York State , and is currently the Executive Director for the New York Propane Gas Association ( nypropane . com ).

The product , sold as “ Halsey Hill Maple Syrup ,” is sold in 250-ml , 500-ml , half-gallon and one-gallon containers .

New packaging and labeling touts a prominent addition : an eye-catching “ Propane-fired " emblem .

“ We have been making Maple syrup from the trees here in Central New York for almost ten years ,” Overbaugh said . “ Shane Sweet suggested we highlight our propanefired process , and that we should tell people about it . We think the Maple syrup lovers out there in the propane industry might like the idea .”

Maple Syrup is a cottage industry dating back hundreds of years . It ’ s said that Native Americans drank the sweet sap fresh from the tree . When colonists were faced with sugar taxes , they began processing the sap into a shelf-stable syrup . Maple syrup can be made anywhere maple trees will grow , but it is primarily in the northeast and upper Midwest , Overbaugh said . “ Sugaring Season ” is generally in the spring of the year and it is then that the raw syrup from sugar maples is collected , distilled and packaged .

The product is available to anyone and can be shipped anywhere in the US . “ If pancakes and waffles are your thing , here ' s your chance to get it right and support the propane industry as well ,” quipped Overbaugh .

The product will be available online and for purchase using a variety of generally accepted payment methods .

Anyone interested can go to www . propaneandoiltraining . com where there is a link to be notified when Propane-Fired Maple syrup is available . l FON

20 JANUARY 2023 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com